Mount Union would get the ball back with 39 seconds left, down by eight, but a comeback drive fell short, ending the Purple Raiders’ 29-game winning streak, which started after a 2016 NCAA tournament loss to none other than Mary Hardin-Baylor.

The Crusaders finished the season a perfect 15-0, and captured their second Stagg Bowl title ever, the first of which came in 2016.

Last season saw a 25-year run come to an end in Salem, Virginia and it concluded as it began. Mount Union won the first and last national championships in Salem Stadium, shutting out Mary Hardin-Baylor 12-0 for the 2017 title. It was the Purple Raiders 13th national championship, all of which came in Salem.

Mitchell Northam is a graduate of Salisbury University. His work has been featured at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Orlando Sentinel, SB Nation, USA Today, Bleacher Report, FanSided and the Delmarva Daily Times. He grew up on Maryland's Eastern Shore and is a member of APSE, USBWA and NASR. He's on Twitter at @primetimeMitch.

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